Boxer Steve Costigan drearily waking in Yu Shantu’s Temple of Dreams, a hashish den in the city of London, England. He has been re-occurring dreams of something he calls “Skull Face”, and is puzzled about their meanings. He is broke, and in need of more hashish, the drug he is addicted to. When confronted by the doorman, Hassim, Costigan informs him of his lack of funds. Hassim promptly throws him out through the front door to the den. Bruised and bleeding, Costigan is helped to his feet by a young woman, Zulieka